Observation (CEACR) - adopted 1999, published 88th ILC session (2000)

The Committee notes the information contained in the Government's report for the period ending June 1998. The Government states that unemployment has decreased by around 17,000 between 1996 and 1997, and was continuing to decline into 1998. The greatest decline in unemployment was among youth (20-25 years of age). At the same time, the labour force expanded by 53,000 in 1996 and 46,000 in 1997. The OECD statistics indicate that the standardized unemployment rate dropped to 3.3 per cent in 1998, and was less than 3 per cent by the end of 1998.

The Government states in its report that the sharp increase in the number of vacancies and some labour shortages has challenged the Labour Market Service to mobilize sufficient labour. It is doing this through information, guidance, follow-up, recruitment assistance, placement and upgrading of skills. However, the Government identifies a continuing problem of discrimination against foreign-born workers, even those with good qualifications. The Committee notes the Government's intention to reduce the number of foreign-born unemployed through placements, upgrading of skills, training and wage subsidies, and would appreciate receiving further information on the Government's progress in this respect, including details on the levels and trends of employment of this particular category of workers, as requested in the report form under Article 1 of the Convention. It also draws the Government's attention to the prohibition against discrimination based on national extraction contained in the Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111), which Norway has ratified.

The Confederation of Trade Unions in Norway (LO) considers the Government's report to be thorough but would add that the labour market outlook is now poor. The LO believes that unemployment will grow in 1999. The Committee notes these comments, and asks the Government to keep it informed of changes in the labour market, and of the Government's response, as requested in the report form under Article 1.